Data Layer: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
You are invited to read the definitions of terms used in this data standard.
| Name | Congressional District |
| Description |
The data layer consists of digital information input by the Census Bureau depicting the boundaries of the Congressional Districts. This may vary by Congress, as there could be redistricting changes every two years. |
| Source |
The Census Bureau has switched from TIGER/Line files in ASCII format to the TIGER/Line Shapefiles. The 2008 TIGER/Line Shapefiles are available for download at http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tgrshp2008/tgrshp2008.html. The 2008 TIGER/Line metadata in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format is included with each compressed TIGER/Line Shapefile. |
| Historical Data | For information on past versions of this standard, contact: Andrey Andreyev, National Data Administrator, Branch of Data and Systems Services, Division of Information Resources and Technology Management |
| Reference(s) |
Part 270, FW 6, Data Management and Standards, dated September 30, 2002 has been superceded by Part 274, FW 2, Establishing Service Data Standards, dated March 4, 2009. The organizational structure of Nation- and state-based shapefiles, including current and previous Congressional Districts, is described at http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tgrshp2008/tgrshp2008org.html. The National Atlas of the United States provides printable maps, boundaries, and a map layer of the congressional district boundaries for the 110th Congress (2007-2008). Descriptive information includes the full name and party affiliation of the congressional representative elected from each district and the congressional district number. This map layer is the only congressional district information that can be viewed online with the National Atlas Map Maker; however, historical congressional district map layers for the 106th (1999-2000), 107th (2001-2002), 108th (2003-2004), and 109th (2005-2006) Congresses are also available for download from the National Atlas web site. |
| Use Instructions |
As of the approval date, this data standard will be used whenever Congressional
District spatial data are required for an application. This data standard also needs
to be used in conjunction with the Congressional District Data Element Standard, which can
be viewed at this site.
To ensure compliance with the Service Enterprise Architecture (SEA), Service staff are strongly encouraged to utilize this data layer in existing systems, data sets, databases, and information applications. Where existing systems and data-related items are not in compliance, they should be modified to achieve compatibility and implement this data standard. |
| Phase | Adopted |
| Approval Date | July 13, 1999 |
| Validation Date | January 5, 2009 |
| Data Steward | Chris Lett, National FWS GIS Coordinator, Branch of Data and Systems Services, Division of Information Resources and Technology Management |